Overview[]
The Tank, Light, T1 is an American light tank prototype developed in the 1920s. It was developed to replace the M1917 light tank.
Development[]
On the 24th of May, 1922, the Chief of Ordnance requested the Chief of Infantry to provide specifications and requirements for a new light tank. The response from the 6th of June states the new vehicle be a two-man vehicle armed with a 37mm gun and a .30 caliber machine gun, both of which to be operated by the gunner from the same position. The armour was to defend against .30 caliber armour piercing ammunition of the time, with impact angles greater than 45°. The vehicle was not to exceed five short tons (~4,500kg) so it could be transported on a heavy-load truck.
In June 1924, Rock Island Arsenal was directed to focus on the production of a light tank, however the general attitude of those involved thought that a medium tank would be more useful. After much back-and-forth between departments, OCM 5165 dated 28 January 1926 recommended that the manufacturing service be authorized to begin development of light tanks, with the Chief of Ordnance ordering Rock Island Arsenal to proceed with development on a light tank on the 5th of February 1926.
Development by Rock Island Arsenal continued until the 1st of September 1926, where development was transferred to the Tank Board at Fort Meade in Maryland. The new developers moved the engine to the front of the vehicle due to weight concerns. By the 15th of March 1927, the manufacture of a pilot tank was ready to begin, with James Cunningham, Son & Company being awarded the contract on the 12th of April 1927. They were given 120 days to produce a pilot vehicle.
The pilot was completed on the 1st of August 1927, and designated the T1. The T1 pilot was demonstrated on the 1st of September 1927 at Rochester. The pilot was fitted with a mock-up superstructure and turret. Additional tests were performed at Aberdeen, where the vehicle was later converted to the Light Cargo Carrier, T1 — replacing the mock-up superstructure and turret with a wooden cargo body. Later modifications to this vehicle included the conversion into an artillery wire reel carrier.
The T1 was approved by the Chief of Infantry, who authorized the manufacture of six additional vehicles. These would be four Light Tank, T1E1 and two Light Cargo Carrier, T1E1 vehicles.
Variants[]
- Light Tank, T1
- Pilot vehicle from 1927, lacked superstructure and turret.
- Light Tank, T1E1
- Prototype from 1928, four made.
- Light Tank, T1E2
- Model with improved turret.
- Light Tank, T1E3
- Model with long barrelled 37mm gun.
- Light Tank, T1E4
- Model with improved suspension.
- Light Tank, T1E5
- Model with new steering system.
- Light Tank, T1E6
- Final model.
Derivatives[]
- 4.2 inch Mortar Motor Carriage, T1
- Mortar carrier based on the Light Cargo Carrier, T1E1.
- Light Cargo Carrier, T1
- Cargo carrier conversion from the Light Tank, T1.
- Light Cargo Carrier, T1E1
- Cargo carrier based on the Light Tank, T1.
 United States of AmericaLand Vehicles Interwar & World War II Period (1919 — 1945) |
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| Tracked Vehicles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Light Tanks | Tankettes | CTL (1 • 1TB1 • 2 • 3 • 3A • 3M • 3TBD • 4TAC • 4TAY • 6) |
| Standard Light Tanks | M1 (E2 • A1 • A1E1) • M2 (A1 • A2 • A3 • A4) • M3 (A1 • A2 • A3) • M4 • M5 (A1) • M22 • M24 • T1 (E1 • E2 • E3 • E4 • E5 • E6) • T2 (E1 • E2) • T3 • T5 (E1 • E2) • T7 (E1 • E2 • E3 • E4 • E5) • T9 (E1) • T13 (E1) • T16 • T21 • T24 (E1) • T37 | |
| Amphibious Light Tanks | LVT(A)-1 • LVT(A)-1/M24 Turret • LVT(A)-4 (early) • LVT(A)-4 (late) • LVT(A)-5 | |
| Flamethrower Light Tanks | M3 Satan • T65 | |
| Medium Tanks | Standard Medium Tanks | M1 • M2 (A1) • M3 (A1 • A2 • A3 • A4 • A5) • M4 (Hybrid • (105) • (105) HVSS • A1 • A1E9 • A1(76)W • A1(76)W HVSS • A2 • A2E4 • A2(76)W • A2(76)W HVSS • A3 • A3E2 • A3(76)W • A3(76)W HVSS • A3(105) • A3(105) HVSS • A4 • A5 • A6) • M7 • T2 • T3 (E1 • E2) • T4 (E1 • E2) • T5 • T6 • T15 • T20 (E1 • E2 • E3) • T22 (E1 • E2) • T23 (E1 • E2 • E3 • E4) • T25 (E1) • T26 (E1 • E2 • E3 • E4 • E5) • M26 • M27 • M45 |
| Flamethrower Medium Tanks | M4A3 (Crocodile • POA-CWS-H5 • R3 • R5) | |
| Heavy Tanks | Standard Heavy Tanks | T1 (E1 • E2 • E3) • M3 • M6 (A1 • A2 • A2E1-1) • T14 • T28 • T29 • T30 • T32 • T34 |
| Gun Carriages | SPAA | T19 • M19 (A1) • T52 • T53 (E1) • T65 • T77 (E1) • T77E1 • T85 (E1) |
| SPG | 37mm T42 • 37mm T56 • 47mm M2A1 • 57mm T49 • 57mm T56 • 75mm M3 • 75mm T67 • 76.2mm M5 • 76.2mm M9 • 76.2mm M10 (A1) • 76.2mm M18 • 76.2mm T70 • 76.2mm T35 • 90mm M36 (B1 • B2) • 90mm T53 • 105mm M37 • 105mm T95 • 114.3mm T16 • 155mm M12 • 155mm M40 • 203.2mm T93 | |
| SPH | 75mm Christie • 75mm Holt • 75mm T1 • 75mm T3 • 75mm M8 • 75mm T18 • 75mm T41 • 75mm T47 • T51 • M7 (B1 • B2) • 105mm M37 • 105mm T76 • 105mm T82 • 105mm T88 • 155mm Christie • 155mm M41 • 155mm T64 (E1) • 203.2mm M43 • 240mm T92 | |
| SPM | 81mm T27 • 107mm T1 • 107mm T2 • 107mm T29 • 107mm T38 • 107mm T81 • 155mm T90 | |
| SPRA | M17 • T34 • T39 • T72 • T73 • T76 • T99 • T105 • Sd.Kfz. 251 with T34 Calliope | |
| Utility | APC | T13 AUV |
| Cargo Carrier | T22 (E1) • T23 | |
| Tractor | Allis Chalmers HD10W • Caterpillar D7 • Ford T16 • Heavy Tractor, M1 • High Speed Tractor, M4 • High Speed Tractor, M5 • High Speed Tractor, M29 • International Harvester TD-18 • Light Snow Tractor, T15 • Light Snow Tractor, T24 • Light Tractor, T18 • LVT-1 • LVT-2 • LVT(A)-2 • LVT-3 • LVT-4 | |
| Prime Mover | M33 • M35 | |
| Reconnaissance | T8 (E1 | |
| Recovery & Engineering | M31 (B2 • B3) • T6 (E1) | |
| Utility | M39 • T41 (E1) | |
| Half-Tracked Vehicles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Combat Vehicles | AC/SC/other | DHT-5 T14 |
| GMC | T12 • T48 • T54 (E1) • T59 (E1) • T60 (E1) • T68 M3 (A1) • M34 | |
| HMC | T19 • T30 • T38 | |
| CGMC/MGMC | T1 (E1 • E2 • E3 • E4) • T10 (E1) • T58 M2 Half-Track (B-6) • M13 • M14 • M15 (A1) • M16 (A1 • A2 • B) • M17 | |
| MC | T19 • T21 (E1) M4 (A1) • M21 | |
| Utility | Transport | T7 • T16 M2 (A1 • E1 • E2 • E3 • E4 • E5 • E6) • M3 (A1 • A2 • E1 • E2) • M5 (A1 • A2) • M9 (A1 • A2) |
| Trucks | T9 (E1) • T15 • T16 • T17 • T18 • T19 | |
| Amphibious Transport | T32 | |
| Utility | Patton's Command Vehicle • T17 Radio Carrier • T18 Instrument Carrier | |
| Wheeled Vehicles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Combat Vehicles | Armoured Cars | T17 (E1 • E2 • E3) • T18 M8 |
| Scout Cars | T6 • T7 • T8 • T9 • T10 • T11 (E1 • E2) • T24 • T25 (E1 • E2 • E3) M3 • (A1) | |
| Gun Motor Carriages (GMC) | M6 • T66 • T55 (E1) | |
| Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC) | T69 | |
| Utility | Transport & Towing | M20 |
| Trailers | M15 Trailer | |
| Sources | ||
|---|---|---|
| Books | Online | Documents |
| • Searching for Perfection — An Encyclopedia of U.S. Army T-Series Vehicle Development 1925-1958, David R. Haugh, 1999 (ISBN 0-938242-33-4) • Stuart — A History of the American Light Tank Volume 1, R.P. Hunnicutt, 1992 (ISBN 0-89141-462-2) |
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